Separable fastener



July 21, 1936. K. M. FRI TTS SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Oct. 12, 1

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INVENTOR.

F768 FIG/0 v ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 21, 1936 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.048.544 snrananmras'rnmm Kenneth M. Frltts, Erie, Pa.

Application mm 12, 193:. Serial No. 093.:99

' Claims. (01. 24-205) The present invention is designed to simplifyseparable fasteners. In carrying out my invention preferably I provide aresilient strip on which the interlocking members are formed integrally5 and from which they project. The members are swung into and out ofengagement,by the usual fanning action through the distortion orresilience of the strip on which the members are formed. The inventioncontemplates a convenient form of members simplifying their fabricationand supplying an efficient structure. The invention also contemplatesforming the strips with interlocking members and attaching the same to astringer, or tape, in one operation-if rubber is used, during thevulcan'izationof the rubber. Features and details of the invention willappear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing as follows:-

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a fastener. Fig. 2 a side elevation ofthe same.

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 a section on the line4-4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 a section on the line 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 asection on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 a side elevation of theslider. Fig. 8 a front elevation of the same. Fig. 9 a side elevation ofthe slider tab. Fig. 10 a. front elevation of the slider tab.

Fig. 11 a section on the line ll-ll in Fig. 1. I marks the stringers, 2a rubber strip extending along the edge of the stringers and preferablysecured thereto during a vulcanization of the rubber. The strip isprovided with a longitudinally extending guide groove 3. Interlockingmembers 4 project integrally from the strip.

These members are of bulbous form having an enlarged outer end 5 andnecks 6 and when swung into engagement the enlarged, or bulbous endsengage the necks of the opposing members, thus locking' these membersagainst separation in a direction in the plane of the stringers. Themembers are provided with interfltting ribs and grooves. A groove 1extends around the outer parts of the projection and a rib 8 extendsaround the connected bases of the members, the grooves being adapted toreceive the ribs as the stringers are moved into closed position.Theseribs form 50 interlocking surfaces preventing the disengagement ofthe members. by a movement at right angles to the plane of thestringers. Thus through these interengaging surfaces the members arelocked against disengaging movement in 55 all directions.

a connecting neck piece III.

A slider is formed of opposing plates 9 having The neck piece isre-enforced by a rivet I I. The slider has the intumed flanges I! whichare flaring with relation to each other and adapted to operate in the 6guide grooves 3, the operation of the slider being to fan out themembers to separate them and to swing them together as the slider isdrawn over them to lock them.

A tab I! has pivot projections ll which are 10 adapted to extend into anopening IS in the rivet so as to form a pivotal support for the tab. Thetab is provided with flanges It at each side and the slide plates 9 havethe slots ll rendering them compressible edgewise. The flanges it are so15 proportioned that when the tab is forced down to place it compressesthe flanges of the slider edgewise and forms a suflicient engagement tolock the slider in position.

In forming this structure the rubber strips with 20 their interlockingprojections are preferably vulcanized in an integral whole and securedto the l tape during the vulcanizing operation.

The resilient nature of the strips permits the formation of the strip asa whole integrally with 25 the projecting interlocking members and thestrips through their resiliency may be sprung, or bent, to afford thenecessary fanning action of the members to separate and move them intointerlocking engagement. Various shapes of inter- 30 looking members maybe used, but the shape illustrated as an example is preferable in thatit may be readily molded and removed from the mold.

What I claim as new is:

1. A separable rubber fastener comprising a 35 pair of rubber stripseach having a series of similarly shaped interlocking members of rubberintegral with the strip and separable through a fanning action of themembers, said members having interlocking surfaces said surfaces pro- 40viding' interlocking shoulders facing edgewise and crosswise and lockingthe members against disengaging movement in all directions.

2. A separable fastener comprising a pair of strips each having a seriesof interlocking members of resilient distortable material; said membershaving bulbous ends and relatively narrow necks, the bulbous ends ofeach series interfitting with the necks of the opposed-series, theengaging surfaces of said members having inter-engaging ribs andgrooves.

3. A separable fastener comprising a pair of rubber strips andinterlocking members formed integrally with and projecting from each ofsaid strips, said members having bulbous ends and relatively narrownecks,- the bulbous ends of each series interfltting with the narrownecks of the opposed series, the eng in surfaces-o! said members havinginter-engaging ribs and grooves.

4. A separable fastener comprising interlocking members; a slider havingflanges operating on the members, said slider being compressibleedgewise permitting a movement oi'the flanges toward and from eachother; and a tab on the slider engaging 10 the flanges of the slider andadapted compress the same to lock the slider.

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interlocking members projecting therefrom, 'a'

slider having flanges operating on the" guideshouldersioractuatingthemsmbernsaidslider being compressible edgewise,permitting a movementottheflangestowardandtromeachother;andatabmountedonthesliderandengageable withthe same.

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